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New Owners Save Mission's Uptown

Scott Lucas | Photo: Courtesy Capp Street Crap | November 4, 2014

Good news. What a change.

Uptown

A Mission dive bar — a neighborhood establishment for thrty years — is facing an uncertain future...

You probably think you know the rest of this story. After all, just think of The Lex or The Attic or Esta Noche. The place closes and a Tesla dealership/hackspace/raw vegan yoga studio takes its place. Except this time, there's a different ending.

The Uptown, at 17th and Capp, has been in limbo since its owner died in April. But a group of employees and supporters of the place, working under the banner "Buy Your Own Damn Bar" have, well, bought their own damn bar.

Capp Street Crap reports that the new owners are tying up some small legal loose ends before taking over the remainder of the bar's four year lease, with a possibility of an extension for another five. The group is planning on doing a light remodel, and then throwing a big 30th birthday party.

The bar's new ownership credits its longevity to a few things. It's never really chased trends. It's never turned away patrons. And we'll add one more idea to why it has survived—it has some damn good employees. Whoops, pardon us. Owners.